Surf Coast Walk
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Photos and updates from the the Surf Coast Walk Project.
Update 13 December 2011
The Gilbert St - Bell St concrete shared pathway works are complete and are being put to good use by coastal users.
Repair work on the track between 4 Kings and Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club started today and will continue over the next week.
Update 17 October 2011
The Gilbert St – Bell St concrete shared pathway works will commenced and are expected to be underway for 6 weeks.
Torquay Front Beach shared path works underway 6 October 2011
Work on this 2.5m wide, exposed aggregate concrete path is due to commence on Monday 17 October and be completed by 25 November. The path will form part of the Surf Coast Walk and the work is being carried out as part of the Surf Coast Walk Redevelopment Project, jointly funded by the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee, Surf Coast Shire and Regional Development Victoria.
The path will provide access for walkers and cyclists and will be accessible to people with disabilities. A concrete pathway along this grassy open space was first proposed in the Torquay Foreshore Masterplan (1998) and was also proposed in the Surf Coast Shire Pathways Strategy (2007).
The path will provide a link between existing concrete paths at Gilbert Street and Bell Street. It will also be linked to existing crossings of the Esplanade at Price and Anderson Streets.
Update 29 September 2011
Work on the Surf Coast Walk redevelopment project continues to advance with 75 per cent of track work now complete. The construction phase of the project has been underway since late 2010, and is anticipated to be completed in the first half of 2012.
Work currently in progress includes construction of a new timber boardwalk on the east bank of the Anglesea River to provide access through an area subject to inundation between the Caravan Park and the River.
The boardwalk and adjoining pathways will be completed early in October and together with the new section of path already built around the edge of the caravan park.
The new boardwalk will provide a continuous pathway for walkers and cyclists between the Anglesea town centre and the scenic cliff-top heathland east of town.
Also underway is a two-metre-wide, gravel shared path alongside the Painkalac Creek estuary in Aireys Inlet, between Reserve Road and the Great Ocean Road bridge.
A section of pathway in the Aireys Inlet Skate Park precinct is currently being reviewed by the Surf Coast Shire prior to works in that area proceeding.
The work in Aireys Inlet has been carefully planned to avoid impacts on recreational open space and an important Aboriginal site, and is consistent with the 2007 Surf Coast Shire Pathways Strategy and 2009 Split Point Lighthouse Precinct Masterplan.
Upcoming works commencing around mid October include the construction of an exposed-aggregate concrete path between Gilbert Street and the existing concrete paths at Bell Street and Point Danger, in Torquay and repairs to rutted and muddy sections of the existing Jan Juc to Bells Beach shared path.
The new path in Torquay will be 2.5 metres wide and provide access for walkers and cyclists, as well as people with disabilities and will be completed in time for the summer holidays.
The final phase of the project will be the development of signage, interpretive information and promotional materials which will begin to be rolled out in early 2012.
For more details access the full media release here.
Surf Coast Walk Project Map 28 September 2011
Take a look at the Surf Coast Walk Map, detailing completed and soon to be completed sections of the walk, as well as other details about the project.
Update 20 September 2011
The next round of Surf Coast Walk works are commencing this week in Aireys Inlet with the construction of a two metre wide gravel shared path between the Great Ocean Road bridge and Reserve Road.
Apart from forming part of the 44 kilometre-long Surf Coast Walk, this pathway will provide a local link between the Aireys Inlet lighthouse precinct and Fairhaven. The link was proposed in the Surf Coast Shire’s 2007 Pathways Strategy and the joint Shire/Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Split Point Lighthouse Precinct Masterplan (2008).
Work is scheduled for completion in mid October. A further link to the Fairhaven Surf Beach will be completed early in 2012.
Update 14 June 2011
Re-construction work is getting underway on the Surf Coast Walk between Southside car park and Jarosite Walk and will be underway for up to two weeks.
The existing rutted earth track formations are being reshaped and filled with compacted gravel to offer a good surface that diverts runoff from the track.
The track will be closed during this time – except weekends – so please avoid the area. Cyclists can detour via Jarosite Road and get onto Jarosite Walk via the gate that’s further along towards Addiscott Rd. Signs will be installed at a couple of locations on site.
Through July and August GORCC will be working on some new sections of the track in Torquay, Aireys Inlet and Anglesea.
Progress report 30 March 2011
The Surf Coast Walk will be closed for repairs between the ‘Boobs car park’ on Ocean Boulevard, Jan Juc, and the ‘Wave car park’ on Bones Road near Bells Beach, from Thursday 31 March 2011 to Thursday 7 April 2011.
Track users are urged to stay out of the work site during the work period.
Progress report 1 March 2011
Work in March 2011 will include:
• Re-construction of the main pathway between the Split Point lighthouse and Split Point lookout, at Aireys Inlet (March 2, 3). The main pathway will be closed but the other pathway will remain open, so the lookout will still be accessible.
• Re-construction of the pathway from the lighthouse to the estuary, at Aireys Inlet (March 4, 7, 8). The pathway will be closed during this time, so walkers will have to use the side of Reserve Road.
• Re-construction of part of the Painkalac Wetland Trail between Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven (March 10 and 11). The pathway will be closed during this time and there are no alternative routes, so walkers are advised to avoid the area.
• Repairs to some parts of the Jan Juc to Bells Beach pathway (March 16, 17, 18, 21 and 22). The pathway will be closed in places on these days. Detours will be marked where possible, but in some areas detours are not possible and the track will be closed. For safety reasons it is essential that track users observe warning signs and keep out of work sites.
• Re-construction of the Hurst Road to Red Rocks Beach track in Great Otway National Park, west of Point Addis (March 24 to April 7 excluding weekends). The track will be closed during this time and there are no alternative routes, so walkers are advised to avoid the area.
Work in April 2011 will include:
• Re-construction of the Hurst Road to Red Rocks Beach track as outlined above (March 24 to April 7 excluding weekends).
• No work during Easter school holidays. Work in May will commence with repairs to the track between Hurst Road and the Eumeralla Eco-camp May 2 to 6.
Signs advising of these works will be installed at the various sites, prior to and during works.
Progress report 2 December 2010
The construction phase of the highly-anticipated Surf Coast Walk project is underway with leading trail design and construction firm World Trail announced as the major contractor.
Current work on the Surf Coast Walk includes:
• Repair of degraded sections between the Eumeralla Camp and the Anglesea River.
• Track repair and drainage improvement between Anglesea and Point Roadknight.
• Reconstruction of the Sandy Gully section of the Aireys Inlet cliff top track.
See the latest media release here.
Progress report 28 July 2010
Works are currently underway at the Eumeralla Scout Camp to replace the old timber steps with a long set of rugged limestone steps. The track is currently closed at the site but is expected to re-open soon. A detour will be in place until then. The new steps will offer some great views towards Anglesea and Aireys Inlet.
In Fairhaven, work is about to start on rebuilding an existing section of track, which involves removing some steps to make it accessible to a wider range of users. We’ll also be rebuilding parts of the track between Anglesea and Point Roadknight to improve drainage and make the track safer and more sustainable.
Work is continuing on vegetation and Aboriginal heritage surveys as part of the approvals process.
Progress report 6 July 2010
Works completed to date include:
- upgrading the path between Yellow Bluff and Gilbert Street to provide a vital pram-friendly link to and from the Torquay Adventure Playground, and
- building new sections in the Anglesea area to provide access around the perimeter of the beachfront caravan park and connect some existing paths. Eventually these sections will be linked up to provide an uninterrupted track from Point Addis to Point Roadknight.
Progress report 30 March 2010
The Melba Pde to Point Roadknight section of the Surf Coast Walk has been completed and represents the first on-ground works.
The final project plan has been completed and includes route maps and details about schedules, cost estimates and other planning details.
The application for consent under the Coastal Management Act has been lodged with the Department of Sustainability and Environment for the works to be undertaken during 2010. Work is underway to prepare and submit the requisite documentation as part of the consent process, which includes cultural heritage management and vegetation management plans for the areas in question. Planning permits have also been lodged with the relevant bodies.
GORCC Outdoor Works staff constructing a new boardwalk at the Anglesea River
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Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Chairman John Carlile and Project Manager Mike Bodsworth on the Surf Coast Walk